5 creative ways to reinvent Easter ham

When I was a kid, I loved hunting for Easter eggs and searching for my Easter basket. But now I look forward to Easter for a completely different reason—the leftover ham. After all our guests depart, I slice and dice up the leftovers. Some of it gets transformed into other recipes the following days. I tuck the rest away in my freezer for when I have a hankering for ham. When I feel like firing up the grill, I make Chicken Cordon Bleu Burgers. Ham & Swiss Rosti is a fast and satisfying dinner on a busy weeknight. Broccoli, Ham & Pasta Salad is perfect for potlucks and picnics; leftovers make a terrific brown-bag lunch. Ham & Red Pepper Spread is a tasty snack or appetizer; I like to spread it on cucumber slices or toasted baguette. And don’t forget to save the ham bone—it adds incredible flavor to our Smoky Black Bean Soup recipe!

The classic flavors of Chicken Cordon Bleu—ham, Swiss cheese and thyme—inspired this easy chicken burger. We like using regular ground chicken, which is a blend of thigh and drumstick meat, to help keep this burger juicy, but feel free to use 100% ground chicken breast if you’d like a leaner burger. You’ll cut 20 calories and 1 gram saturated fat. Serve with roasted broccoli.

Rösti is a traditional Swiss potato pancake typically served as a side dish but we added ham and cheese to transform it into an easy weeknight supper. Enjoy with steamed asparagus and chunky applesauce on the side.

A great make-ahead entree, this lightened-up pasta salad is loaded with broccoli and peppers. Smoky ham and sweet raisins give it plenty of punch. Enjoy the leftovers for a fuss-free lunch. Recipe by Nancy Baggett for EatingWell.

A graduate of New England Culinary Institute and University of Wisconsin with a degree in journalism, Carolyn pairs her long-standing love for food with writing as EatingWell's senior food editor. Carolyn’s culinary interest is rooted in her childhood; she grew up making thousands of Christmas cookies every year with her mom and picking leaves off bunches of parsley to make tabbouleh with her dad. Away from the kitchen, Carolyn enjoys seeking out rare craft beers and exploring the outdoors with her husband, 2-year-old daughter and dog.